Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the political and cultural capital of Indiana, and there is no shortage of great dining spots for groups to enjoy around town. Among the most exciting experiences, though, is a visit to Traders Point Creamery in Zionsville, just outside the city limits.
Traders Point has been operating as a dairy farm and a farm store for years and has been producing organic dairy products and farm-to-fork food since before it was trendy. Groups that visit the farm can see the pastures where cattle graze, get an up-close look at the milking operation and learn about how the farmers pasteurize the milk and make cheese. The best part, though, is the tasting: Visitors can sample the delicious milk, yogurt cheeses and other dairy products that are made on-site and purchase some of their favorites to take home at the farm store.
Traders Point’s dairy bar and restaurant also offer fresh dairy treats and prepared meals, making an ideal place for a group lunch.
While you’re there: Indianapolis has enough first-class cultural institutions to keep visitors busy for days. In addition to visiting the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway for a museum stop and a track tour, groups should be sure to check in at the Indianapolis Museum of Art and tour its Oldfields-Lilly House and Gardens.
Amish Country
Driving several hours northeast of Indianapolis brings groups to Elkhart County, also known as the Amish Country of northern Indiana. Home to one of the nation’s largest Amish populations, the area offers visitors a variety of ways to learn about this fascinating culture. Perhaps the best way to do so is by having a meal in an Amish home.
Though many Amish people keep a distance from the “English,” or non-Amish, the Elkhart County Convention and Visitors Bureau has developed relationships with several Amish families in the area that are happy to share their traditions with visitors. Working with the CVB, groups can arrange to have a meal with one of these families in their home. In addition to dining on traditional Amish foods such as haystack breakfast and shoofly pie that are prepared in kitchens specially modified to work without electricity, groups get to learn about the lifestyles and traditions of their Amish hosts.
While you’re there: Quilting is an important cultural tradition in northern Indiana, and local businesses have integrated historical quilt patterns into colorful gardens planted throughout the town. There are 19 quilt gardens in the area with more than 1 million blooms, as well as 21 quilt murals painted on buildings.
South Bend
As home to the University of Notre Dame, South Bend enjoys a vibrant food and beverage culture. So when groups arrive in town to see the Golden Dome and other Fighting Irish landmarks, they also have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the local culinary scene on the South Bend Foodie Trail.
Developed in cooperation with the editors of Midwest Living magazine, the foodie trail consists of 10 restaurants in South Bend and nearby towns. Visitors who travel the trail will find a mix of college town favorites, innovative gastropubs, classic Indiana cuisine and international outposts. LaSalle Grill serves chophouse cuisine in the lobby of the former 1868 St. Joseph Hotel. Waitresses wear dirndls at Moser’s Austrian Cafe, where diners can sample a variety of traditional Old World foods. Other favorites include French pastries at West End Bakery and creative Japanese fusion food at Zing.
Some restaurants on the trail may have limited availability for groups, so travel planners should coordinate their visits with the South Bend Mishawaka Convention and Visitors Bureau.
While you’re there: For travelers who enjoy classic cars and Americana, a visit to the Studebaker National Museum is a must while in South Bend. This museum takes guests through more than a century and a half of automobile history and features dozens of rare Studebakers, considered some of the most beautiful cars ever made in America.
